Okay, I know I haven't updated since October... I'm sorry. My only excuse is that I have been really busy. So if you're still here, thanks. And here's the next chapter.

Although it was mid-February, when Lily woke up on St. Valentine's day it was to a cloudless blue sky. She rolled over, half asleep, and then her eyes shot open. Shit, she had a date today, and she was meant to be meeting up with him in around... She looked at the clock: one hour. Oh shit.

She jumped out of bed, bumping her shin against the bedpost in the process. There would be a bruise there later, she thought vaguely as she heard Dorcas yawning.

"Morning", her friend called from her bed.

"I am going to be so late..." Lily muttered as she went to open her wardrobe.

"What?" Robyn muttered drowsily, stretching too. "You've still got about an hour"

"Yeah, but I have to go downstairs and have breakfast, and you know how long it takes to get to the Great Hall."

"Have breakfast in Hogsmeade", Avril muttered into her pillow.

Lily stopped rummaging through her clothes and thought about it. "Actually, that's not such a bad idea." She pulled out a pair of jeans and a green woolly jumper (it was cold outside, despite the blue sky).

She sat on the bed, and pulled her jeans on. "Ugh..."

"You okay, Lily?" Dorcas asked her.

She bit her lip. "I'm kinda nervous..."

Her friends grinned. "I thought you were just going as friends?" Avril asked innocently.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh you know what I meant. Like, there's no pressure. But I kind of want things to work out, you know?"

"Yeah, that would be nice," Dorcas said. "Lucky you, though, going on a date with Aaron Jones."

"Mmm, he does seem really nice," Lily smiled.

"And hella cute," Avril mumbled, falling asleep again.

"That too, which is why I'm nervous. I mean, he's gone on dates with loads of people. He probably has really high expectations."

"Which I'm sure you'll meet perfectly, Lily," said Robyn. "Seriously, don't worry. It'll be fine."

An hour later, Lily made her way down to the Portrait Hole, where they had arranged to meet. She saw he wasn't there yet, but suddenly someone covered her eyes from behind.

"Oy, get off!" she laughed, her hands automatically trying to prise the others from her face.

"Nah, guess who first."

She laughed harder then. "James, you asshole. Let go right now, or-" But she didn't have to finish the threat, because he took his hands away.

"So, what you doing down here this early?" Sirius, who was also there, asked her.

She blushed slightly. "Waiting for Aaron, if you must know."

"Ooooh, your date," James smirked.

"Indeed," said Lily. "And what are you guys doing here on your own? Where are the other two?"

"Moony's in bed, he's feeling a bit bad..."

"Oh, full moon tonight, right?" she remembered.

"Exactly. And Wormtail's got himself a date with Marylin, so."

"Feels weird," Sirius grinned, "him having a date instead of us. It's usually the other way round."

The Portrait Hole opened then, revealing Aaron Jones himself. He looked surprised to see James and Sirius there.

"We were just going," James said quickly. "See you around, Lily."

"Yeah, bye Lily-flower!"

She nodded at them, then looked at Aaron. "Hi."

"Hey," he smiled back at her.

Well this isn't awkward at all, she thought. "So, um, I didn't really have time for breakfast, do you mind if we get something in Hogsmeade?"

"No problem," his smile more sincere now. "I'm kind of hungry myself."

By the time they'd made their way out of the castle, through the main gates and down to the village, both of them had loosened up, and were laughing loudly.

"...so that's when I told him he should get off the Hipogriff, especially with the bagpipes in his hands!" he finished.

"Wait, so you're telling me you told the lead singer of The Bouncing Cauldrons to stop playing because he was drunk?" Lily tried to keep a straight face, and didn't succeed.

"Ah, you should have seen him," Aaron sighed comically. "He was a danger to himself. I mean, fancy bringing a Hipogriff to a wedding..."

"A Hipogriff? At a wedding?" a voice called from behind them. They looked round, and it turned out to be Avril, Robyn and Dorcas, all of them wrapped up against the cold wind.

"Aaron was just telling me about his sister's wedding..."

"Sounds interesting," Avril raised her eyebrows at her friend. "But I think we'll leave you to it. See you later!" With that, all three of them made their way towards The Three Broomsticks.

"Your friends seem nice," said Aaron.

"Oh, they are," Lily nodded. "They're brilliant."

He noticed the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke of them. "You're really pretty, you know that?"

She blushed. "So are you."

They both laughed, and also went into the Three Broomsticks. It was crowded, mostly with Hogwarts students. Aaron waved to a few of his classmates at the far end, but looked at Lily inquiringly. "Where do you want to sit?"

"That corner looks alright to me," she said, gesturing to where she meant. They made their way over, and sat down, until Lily realized they hadn't got any drinks. Aaron got up to get them, but Lily said she'd get them instead, so she went over to the bar. Jenna Rosmerta was at the other end serving some drinks, so she waited.

"So, how's your date going?" someone asked her.

By now, she was completely used to James just sneaking up behind her. She used to find it incredibly annoying, but she had long since given up on trying to stop him. "It's not a date..."

"Yeah, whatever," he answered with a twinkle in his eye. "I don't think Aaron is under the same impression. Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

Lily doubted that very much, but even so looked over at the table. Aaron saw her looking, and waved.

"He is kind of cute, isn't he?" Lily said without thinking.

James grinned. "Oh, very. I think I'm cuter though."

Lily looked at him and snorted.

"I find that very offensive, actually," said James, trying to look offended.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Ah, shame."

Rosmerta made her way over to them. "So what will the couple be having?"

"Oh, we're not a couple," Lily said. "I'll have two Butterbeers, though."

"Two Butterbeers coming up." She went to look for the glasses.

"So you never answered, how's your date going?"

"How's yours?" Lily retorted, nodding over to Sirius.

"Ah, come on, you're just avoiding the question now," James teased her.

"I'm not!"

"You so are..."

"Here you go," Jenna was back, two foaming drinks in her hands.

"Thank you," said Lily to her, leaving the right amount of money on the counter. "I'll see you later, James..." With that, she made her way back to the table.

"Was that Lily Evans?" Jenna asked James, who was standing at the bar, watching her leaving.

"Yeah..." he sighed.

"I thought you fancied her? That's what Sirius said, anyway."

"Mmm... Well, he's kind of completely right."

"So what's she doing sitting with some other guy?"

"Just cos I like her, doesn't mean she likes me, does it? Anyway, I'll have two Butterbeers as well, please."

As she went to pour them, James looked back at Lily's table. She was sitting there, her head close to Aaron's, both of them laughing at something she'd said. They looked, he admitted to himself, like any other cute couple on Valentine's day. Look, she's enjoying herself. Just be happy for her, okay? So when Rosmerta got back with the drinks, he made himself carry them back to his own table without looking at the happy couple.

"Mm, thanks," Sirius said, sipping at his Butterbeer. "What did Jenna have to say?

"Not much," James drank too.

"Strange, she usually has quite a lot to say." It was well known that the barmaid enjoyed having a chat.

"Yeah, well. She was asking me about Lily and Aaron, so..."

"Ah. Yes." Sirius found it wise to shut up then.

"Anyway, how come you haven't got a date?" James wondered. "Since about 3rd year you've always come with some girl to the Valentine's Day trip."

"Mmm, yeah, well not this time."

"Why not? You've been acting really weird around girls lately."

"Weird? In what way?"

"As in, not flirting. That kind of weird."

"Well, maybe I'm not interested in stupid flings anymore," Sirius took another sip of his drink. "Maybe I've matured."

At that, James nearly spat his own drink all over his friend. "You have got to be kidding me..."

Sirius stuck his tongue out at him. "Prat."

"Asshole."

At that moment, Avril was looking over at Sirius from the other side of the room.

"Do you guys think Sirius is interested in me?" she asked Dorcas and Robyn, who were both sitting next to her.

"No," Robyn said bluntly.

Avril blinked. "Um, how are you so sure?"

"I just am," she said, taking a sip of her Pumpkin Juice.

"Do you know something, Rob?" Dorcas asked her.

Robyn looked away.

"You do, don't you!" said Avril. "Go on then, what is it?"

Their friend sighed. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"He made me swear I wouldn't tell you. Sorry... And anyway, I guess you'll find out soon enough. He was meant to be telling James soon. I don't think he has yet, though."

"Go on, just tell us..." Avril whined.

"I can't, really!"

"Is he dating someone?"

Robyn tapped the side of her nose, indicating that it was none of Avril's business.

Avril sighed exasperatedly. "Ugh... You are so annoying when you do that. Anyway, do you want another drink? My round."

Dorcas gave one last sip of her drink, and gave the glass to her friend, who also took Robyn's, and made her way over to the bar. She gave them to Jenna, who went to refill them. She sat down on a high stool in front of the counter, and tapped her hands while she was waiting, looking around her. That was when she noticed the boy standing next to her. He was leaning on the bar (also waiting for his drink, she assumed). If he had not been standing in a notoriously magical bar, she would have mistaken him for a Muggle: faded jeans, leather boots, and a t-shirt with a drawing she vaguely recognized... Where had she seen that before?

"Oy," she called out to him. He turned to her, surprised. "What's that from?" she asked him, pointing at his shirt.

He grinned. "It's the logo of a band called The Who."

"Oh... Oh, right! Yeah, I think my friend Lily's got one of their album's..."

"Well, then your friend Lily has very good taste in music. Haven't you heard anything by them?"

"I don't think so..." said Avril.

The boy at the bar took a pen out of his pocket, leaned over, and grabbed her hand. When he finally let it go, there was squiggly hand-writing all over it. "Um, I can't explain... The title of one of their songs, I presume?"

"You presume correctly," he smirked.

Avril looked at him. He was quite good-looking, dark hair flopping over his eyes slightly, although not her usual sort of guy. "Um, are you at Hogwarts? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"Well, I'm less recognizable without the band shirts and whatever. But yeah, I go to Hogwarts. And I who you are, 'cause you went out with a friend of mine, breefly."

"Oh yeah?" Avril didn't look too surprised. "Who was that then?"

"Jacob McDonald."

"Oh... You're a 7th year, then?"

"Do I look younger than you?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Nah, not really. I'm just surprised I haven't seen you around before."

"Well, I'm not in your house."

"Ah, that might explain it then. What house are you in?" she wondered.

"Slytherin."

She blinked. "Oh, right. I wasn't expecting that."

"No, people don't, usually... I can't see why, though."

"You know... The stuff around that house about it being evil... Although I guess it's just prejudice. I don't know. And also, people in Slytherin don't usually wear Muggle clothes."

"That's true. But I am, um, Muggleborn, so..."

"Muggleborn and in Slytherin? Well, that's a new one."

He was about to say something, when Jenna arrived with Avril's drinks. "Here you go."

"Thanks," she replied. "I guess I'll see you around the castle, then."

"Not if I see you first," he grinned.

She smiled back at him. Only when she got back to her table did she realize she hadn't asked him his name. But by then, she couldn't see him. Ah, well, maybe he'd left.

"Who was that you were talking to?" Dorcas asked her.

"Oh, just some 7th year... He seemed really nice, actually."

"Ooooh, he was cute and all," he friend observed.

"Mmm... He was, wasn't he? In a nerdy-rock sort of style..."

"Hey, do you see Angeline over there?" Robyn pointed over to the quietest corner, where their room-mate was sitting. She was deep in conversation with a Slytherin, this one not in Muggle clothing. In fact, they looked quite serious.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Dorcas wondered.

"No idea. Go and ask them," said Avril.

They were all curious, but the idea of interrupting Angeline and that nasty-looking Slytherin guy was too much for them, especially when another Ravenclaw joined the conversation.

"Blimey... So it's not a date, then?" Avril raised her eyebrows.

"Looks like not. Have you seen Lily and Aaron over there, though?"

They looked in the other direction. It was obvious what Dorcas was pointing out: Lily and Aaron were both laughing, their heads close together.

"Looks like they're having fun," remarked Robyn.

"What's the bet they'll have kissed by this evening?"

"Oh, I'm getting tired of all this betting... Who fancies a visit to Honeydukes'?"

Lily had had a great trip. They'd had breakfast, they'd been to Honeydukes, to Zonko's, and walked round all of Hogsmeade... And more than that, she'd had loads of fun. Aaron was easy to talk to, and they had loads in common. It had been a good date.

It was dark by the time they finally arrived at the castle, but not quite curfew time. When they finally reached the bottom of the staircase of the dormitories, they both stood there for a seconds, then Aaron laughed.

"Look at us... Standing here like a pair of idiots. I don't remember any date where I've been this nervous."

"Nervous? Ooh, I thought you'd be above all that," Lily teased him.

He sighed. "Ah, it's different with you..."

"How so?"

"You're... I don't know. I like you."

She smiled. "I like you too."

They both leaned in for the kiss at the same time.

Lily was still grinning broadly when she got into the dormitory. Her friends looked at her, surprised as she kept smiling.

"Oh my god, Lils, you look like the Chesire cat from that film you made me watch," said Avril.

"What happened?" Dorcas squealed. "You have to tell us everything!"

"Oh, it was brilliant!" Lily laughed. "He was just really funny, and super cute, and, oh, I don't know, I just really like him. And..."

"And?" they all asked her.

"We kissed," Lily added smugly.

"Awwww," said Avril as the rest of them cheered. "You two are gonna be so cute together."

"I don't know, but what I do know is that we're meeting up tomorrow."

"What, so soon?" Robyn raised her eyebrows. "He must be keen."

"Oh, he is. And you know what? So am I, I think. It's been ages since I've dated someone, though..." She bit her lip, thinking about it, then yawned. "Anyway, I'm knackered. I'm going to bed." She dragged her clothes off, put on her pyjamas, and got into bed. She was asleep almost instantly.

Right then, though, not everyone was asleep. In the boy's dormitory, James was lying on his back, a scowl on his face.

"What has Aaron got that I haven't, eh?" he wondered out loud.

Sirius, who was playing cards with Dirk Cresswell, rolled his eyes. "Look, he just asked her out first. And it was only a trip to Hogsmeade, it's not like they're dating or anything."

"Yeah, but they probably will be by the end of tonight. Did you see the way they were looking at each other? Ugh.I hate romantic couples."

"You only hate it 'cause it's not you. If it were you and Lily-flower, you might change your mind."

"You're not helping," Dirk remarked.

"It's true, though."

"Still not helping." They sat in silence for a minute or two, until Dirk spoke again. "It's kind of quite round here without the other two. I know Remus is visiting his mum, but where's Peter?"

"He's got himself a date..."

"Oh yeah?" Dirk laughed, although not cruelly. "Who with?"

"Marylin Bones," said James.

"Right. Well, they'd better get back soon, or it'll be curfew time."

In fact, at that exact moment, Peter and Marylin weren't thinking about curfew at all. They were standing in a completely deserted corridor, kissing. Marylin was about a head shorter than him (surprisingly, because Peter wasn't actually that tall), so she was standing on her tiptoes while he was leaning down. He was slowly wrapping his arms round her waist and pulling her closer when a voice interrupted them. They sprung apart and turned around, and were faced by a group of Slytherins.

"What do we have here?" There was a cold, sarcastic note in Mulciber's tone. "If it isn't old rat-face snogging a Hufflepuff in a deserted corridor."

"Go away," said Peter. His word might have been an attempt at toughness, but the wavering in his voice made the other boys laugh.

"Ah, we would, but you see we don't listen to losers."

"I'm not a loser," Peter gritted his teeth at them.

Rosier, who was also there, smirked. "Oh please. You haven't even got any friends, you seem like a loser to me."

"I do so have friends! James, and Sirius, and-"

"They're not your friends. They just let you hang out with them out of pity."

"They- they don't!" But Peter had gone slightly pale.

"Even this Hufflepuff could do better than you!" they laughed.

Marylin turned bright red. "Look, just go away, the lot of you. Or I'll call a prefect."

"Ooooh..." they all said, in mocking fear. But nonetheless, they made their way down the corridor.

"Are you alright?" Marylin asked Peter when they were gone. "You seem a bit shaken up."

"Nah, I'm alright... I'm just tired. Do you mind if we go back now?"

"Yeah, okay. It's probably best." They made their way back to their dormitories in silence, and when it was time for them to split up, Marylin gave him a kiss on the cheek. "See you around."

Peter nodded, and started off towards the Gryffindor common room. He walked slowly, the Slytherin's teasing voices repeating the words over and over in his head. Out of pity... Was it true? It couldn't be, could it? I mean, his friends weren't like that. They were honest, straightforward. But on the other hand... It had never made sense, that three boys like James, Sirius and Remus would hang out with someone like him. They were all bright, sharp, and although Remus had never been as popular as the other two, at least he had other friends. Not like him.

And he was so scared of being on his own. He remembered back in 1st year, when he hadn't had any friends at all. He had wanted to go back home, wanted to see his mum, who always made a fuss of him, and his dad, who never denied him anything. He felt safe there, protected. But the day he sat next to Remus in Herbology, things changed. He wasn't popular, but at least he had someone to talk to. And then both of them made friends with Sirius and James, their room-mates, and from then on the four of them were inseparable.

It was impossible that they were only pitying him... Or was it?